65,000 Airbnb rental lists ordered it to be banned in Spain due to the alleged violations

Spain has ordered Airbnb The Ministry of Consumer Rights said on Monday that the lists of more than 65,000 holidays, or leave, are based on its platform to violate the rules.

The ministry said that many 65,935 Airbnb The lists that ordered to withdraw their license number do not include or determine whether the owner is an individual or company. Others said they have noticed numbers that do not match the authorities.

Spain is wrestling with the crisis of ability to afford housing costs that motivated government measures against short -term rental companies. In recent months, tens of thousands of Spaniards have moved to the streets Protest High costs of housing and leasing, which many say have been transferred by renting holidays on platforms such as Airbnb that have spread in cities such as Madrid and Barcelona and many other famous tourist destinations.

“It is already sufficient to protect those who do the right to housing,” Consumer Minister Pablo Boustandoi told reporters on Monday.

He said that he aims to end “illegitimacy” and “lack of control” in the field of vacation rental, Reuters mentioned.

Reuters reported that about 321,000 homes in Spain had holiday rental licenses as of November last year, which was more than 15 % for 2020, noting the official data. Many others work without formal licenses.

Airbnb said it would appeal the decision. Through a spokesman, the company said it does not believe that the ministry may allow it to judge short-term rents-and that it used a “random method” to include Airbnb rents that do not need a license to work.

Last year, Barcelona announced a plan to close all 10,000 apartments licensed in the city as short -term rents by 2028 to protect housing supply for full -time residents.

The ministry said it had informed Airbnb of incompatible lists months ago, but the company resumed this step in the court.

The Spain government said that the Supreme Court in Madrid supported the matter that was sent to Airbnb. Bustinduy said it included the immediate removal of 5,800 rental listings from the site. He said that two subsequent requests will be issued until nearly 66,000 removal operations are reached.

The government of Spain said that the first round of affected real estate was present throughout the country, including in the capital, Madrid, as well as in the regions of Andalusia and Akalonia, which is its capital, Barcelona.